Suspect Sought in Connection with North Carolina Masonic Hall Fire

by Christopher Hodapp

A former lodge officer is being sought in connection with a possible arson fire at North Carolina's Oak Island Lodge 758 in Long Beach on the afternoon of Sunday, November 6th. The fire caused major exterior damage around its main entrance, and possible structural damage as well. Investigators believe the blaze may have been deliberately set.

Police are now hunting Wesley Heckendorn, 34, of Bolivia, NC – the lodge's former Senior Deacon in 2020 – as a suspect in connection with the case.

From the State Port Pilot website today:

Oak Island Police Department is investigating the fire, which appeared intentionally set, and is looking for 34-year-old Wesley Heckendorn as a person of interest in the case. Brunswick County Sheriff’s office is also looking for Heckendorn as part of a missing person investigation.

A press release from Oak Island specifies Heckendorn is only a person of interest and no suspect has been named in the case yet.

Heckendorn was last seen driving a white 2017 Kia Forta with a black front bumper and the license plate number CDN-7528. Anyone with information on his location is advised to call 911.

The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office is also searching for Heckendorn as part of an ongoing missing persons investigation.

And no, in case you're wondering, it's NOT the same Oak Island that's the ongoing subject of a seemingly endless History Channel TV show about a deep, mysterious pit in Nova Scotia.